A rare Federation win in a memorial shield bowls match at the Manor
The Northants Bowling Federation have won the John Dickenson Memorial Shield for only the second time by defeating host club Whittlesey Manor 111-102.
The annual curtain-raiser to the new county season remembers the outstanding contribution John made to the Federation movement both at county and national level, serving as county treasurer and president and national president and chairman.
The match now provides the opportunity for the Newton Trophy team captain Brian Bassam to run the rule over his squad and potential new members ahead of the opening county championship programme, which this year is on May 30 away to Hunts at Sawtry.
The Manor club actually won on three rinks of the six rinks and drew on another, but a 20-shot victory for the Conservative rink of Dave Franks, Andy Dyer and Barry Lawrence tipped the scales in favour of the visitors.
John’s widow Mary was on hand to present the trophy.